Bihać and Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Last month UNV Field Unit Bosnia and Herzegovina was excited to participate in the official opening of the Youth Employment & Information Centres – or CISOs – in Bihać and Prijedor, located in the northwest of the country. The opening of the first of 15 CISO centres marks an exciting new chapter in supporting young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina to overcome high rates of unemployment and secure the first step to better futures. Read

Kinshasa, DRC: It was a somber day in Kinshasa last Sunday as UNV Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri joined the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme and Senior Management for the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) in a special tribute to the three UN Volunteers who lost their lives in the crash of UN Flight 834 last Monday 4 April. Read

Kinshasa, DRC: The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is deeply saddened by the deaths of three UN Volunteers who were among those killed in the plane crash at Kinshasa airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday 4 April. Read

Dushanbe, Tajikistan: New study by United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme argues that volunteering offers significant potential for development of the country.  Mr. Ghulam M. Isaczai, Chief of UNV’s Development Division, and Ms. Mavsuma Muinova, Deputy Head of the State Committee on Youth, Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Tajikistan jointly launched the report at a ceremony held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Read

Quito, Ecuador: "Volunteering is an essential tool of governance by the people and for the people, a tool for citizens’ participation": Ricardo Carrillo, Under-Secretary of People, Social Movements and Citizen Participation in Ecuador.

Volunteering organizations are currently gathering in Quito for the first in a series of get-togethers aimed at paving the way for a World Volunteer Coalition. Read

Bonn, Germany: During a recent visit to UNV headquarters in Bonn, Rebeca Grynspan, the UNDP Associate Administrator, said she was inspired by the impact of volunteerism and the contribution made by volunteers, and pledged to take time to meet with UN Volunteers and visit UNV supported projects during her field visits. Read

Islamabad, Pakistan: On the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, Rizwan Latif, a national UN Volunteer Outreach and Capacity Development Officer based in Islamabad, was sharing his work with young men and boys so that they can contribute to local efforts for the empowerment and protection of women in Pakistan.

Concerted efforts from all quarters are needed to stop the continued increase of incidents of rape and violence against women in the country.

Read

Bonn, Germany: On the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, UNV marks the establishment of the UN WOMEN organization and recognizes women's contribution to global peace and development agenda through volunteering.  Read

New Delhi, India: International Volunteer Day (IVD) 2010 was celebrated all over India with a variety of impressive activities from a national essay and slogan competition to local panel discussions, a tree-planting and a human chain march to promote the MDGs and volunteerism. Read

Tashkent, Uzbekistan: In a region facing immense environmental challenges that have negatively impacted on people’s livelihoods, and with tuberculosis reaching epidemic proportions, community volunteers are helping disseminate information on tuberculosis and undertake small-scale initiatives to improve living standards. Read